Enhanced presentation mode for search results

ABSTRACT

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for presenting search results. In one aspect, a method includes displaying a search engine results page in a first presentation mode or a second presentation mode, wherein, in the first presentation mode and the second presentation mode, the search engine results page includes (i) a text region that displays textual information relating to one or more search results that are responsive to a search query and (ii) an image region, wherein, in the first presentation mode, the image region displays contextual information relating to two or more of the search results that are responsive to the search query, and wherein, in the second presentation mode, the image region displays contextual information relating to a single search result that is responsive to the search query; and receiving a user input, then switching the search engine results page between the first presentation mode and the second presentation mode.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.13/253,746, filed Oct. 5, 2011, the contents which is incorporated byreference.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to search engines, and one particularimplementation relates to an enhanced presentation mode for a searchengine results page.

A search engine results page (SERP) is a web page that identifies searchresults that are returned by a search engine in response to a searchquery. Each search result may, for example, include a link to aresource, a title, an image, a text snippet that may identify wherequery terms occur within the resource, or other information.

SUMMARY

When viewing a search engine results page, a user of a search engine mayinstinctively scan the page in a top-to-bottom pattern, and may focustheir attention on images before focusing their attention on text.According to an innovative aspect of the subject matter described inthis specification, a search engine results page is arranged to includean image that provides context to multiple search results, in aprominent area of the page such as the top. The page is also arranged toinclude the text of one or more search results in an area on which theuser's attention is likely to be focused after they have scanned overthe image, such as at the bottom of the page.

Through this arrangement, the user's attention may instinctively bedrawn downward over the page to the image, during which time the usercan derive insights regarding the set of search results that werereturned in response to a search query. The user's attention may thencontinue to be drawn downward to the text of a particular search result,during which time contextual information that was derived from the imagecan be supplemented with additional information that is derived from thetext of the particular search result. In doing so, the user can quicklylearn a significant amount of information about the set of searchresults, or about a particular search result, in an intuitive manner andwith a minimum number of eye movements.

When the user is ready to learn more information about a particularsearch result, the user can switch the search engine results page fromone presentation mode to another presentation mode. In this otherpresentation mode, the search engine results page is updated to includean image that provides context to a particular search result, andadditional text that provides further context to the particular searchresult. As the user continues to scroll to additional search results,the image may be locked to a particular position on the search engineresults page, and may be updated to provide context to a search resultto which the user has scrolled.

Innovative aspects of the subject matter described in this specificationmay be embodied in methods that include the actions of displaying asearch engine results page in a first presentation mode or a secondpresentation mode, wherein, in the first presentation mode and thesecond presentation mode, the search engine results page includes (i) atext region that displays textual information relating to one or moresearch results that are responsive to a search query and (ii) an imageregion, wherein, in the first presentation mode, the image regiondisplays contextual information relating to two or more of the searchresults that are responsive to the search query, and wherein, in thesecond presentation mode, the image region displays contextualinformation relating to a single search result that is responsive to thesearch query; and receiving a user input, then switching the searchengine results page between the first presentation mode and the secondpresentation mode.

Other embodiments of these aspects include corresponding systems,apparatus, and computer programs, configured to perform the actions ofthe methods, encoded on computer storage devices.

These and other embodiments may each optionally include one or more ofthe following features. For instance, in the first presentation mode,the contextual information relating to two or more of the search resultscomprises a first map that includes icons that specify locations on thefirst map that are associated with two or more of the search results,and in the second presentation mode, the contextual information relatingto a single search result comprises a second map that includes a singleicon that specifies a location on the second map that is associated witha single search result. In the second presentation mode, the contextualinformation comprises an image associated with the single search result,co-located in the image region with the second map. Switching the searchengine results page between the first presentation mode and the secondpresentation mode comprises locking the image region to the top of thesearch engine results page when switching the search engine results pagefrom the first presentation mode to the second presentation mode. In thefirst presentation mode, the text region displays a portion of a highestranked search result, and when the search result page switches from thefirst presentation mode to the second presentation mode, the text regiondisplays the highest ranked search result and a portion of anext-to-highest ranked search result. The text region displays textualinformation only. The user input comprises a scrolling gesture inputthrough a proximity-sensitive display of a mobile device. Receiving, bya mobile device, the search results. In the second presentation mode,the image region displays contextual information relating to a singlesearch result only. Switching the search engine results page between thefirst presentation mode and the second presentation mode comprisesupdating the image region. The search results comprise local searchresults. The search results comprise universal search results. In thefirst presentation mode only, the search engine results page comprises asponsored content region that displays sponsored content relating to twoor more of the search results. The single search result is included inthe two or more search results.

Particular embodiments of the subject matter described in thisspecification may be implemented so as to realize one or more of thefollowing advantages. A user can process search results with a fewernumber of eye movements. Search engine results pages may be arranged ina manner that is more consistent with the way that users instinctivelyprocess visual information. Users may be shown general information aboutmultiple search results, and specific information about a particularsearch result, even with limited display space.

The details of one or more embodiments of the subject matter describedin this specification are set forth in the accompanying drawings and thedescription below. Other potential features, aspects, and advantages ofthe subject matter will become apparent from the description, thedrawings, and the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts an example search engine results page, arranged in afirst presentation mode.

FIGS. 2 and 3 depict an example search engine results page, arranged ina second presentation mode.

FIG. 4 depicts an example search engine system for displaying an examplesearch engine results page.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for displaying an example search engine resultspage.

Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 depicts an example search engine results page 102 a, arranged ina first presentation mode, and FIG. 2 depicts an example search engineresults page 102 b, arranged in a second presentation mode. The searchengine results page 102 may be switched between the first presentationmode and the second presentation mode in response to a user input, e.g.,based on detecting a scrolling or swiping gesture.

In general, when the search engine results page 102 a is arranged in thefirst presentation mode, the search engine results page 102 a includes asearch query field 104, an image region 106 that displays one or moreimages, and a text region 108 that displays the text of one or moresearch results that are in response to a search query. When the searchengine results page 102 b is arranged in the second presentation mode,the search engine results page 102 b includes the image region 106 thatdisplays one or more updated images, and the text region 108 thatdisplays additional text of the one or more search results that are inresponse to the search query. In various implementations, other contentregions may be included in the first presentation mode and/or the secondpresentation mode, or certain of the depicted regions may be omitted.

In more detail, in the first presentation mode, the search engineresults page 102 includes a search query field 104 that displays queryterms 118 (in the figure, “pizza austin, texas”) associated with asearch query. The search engine results page 102 also includes the imageregion 106, which includes contextual information, i.e., one or moreimages relating to two or more of the search results that are identifiedin response to the search query. For instance, the image region 106 mayinclude a map 110 a that includes icons 112 a-112 d that denote thegeographic locations associated with points of interest referenced byseveral search results that are in response to the search query. Theicons 112 a-112 d may, for example, show the location of four businessesthat satisfy the user's information need.

By including contextual information relating to the two or more searchresults in the image region 106, the search engine results page 102 amay provide the user of the search engine with information that the usercan use to derive insights relating to several search results. Byplacing the image region 106 near the top of the search engine resultspage 102 a, the user may quickly encounter the image during atop-to-bottom scan of the search engine results page 102, and mayevaluate the contextual information included in the image region 106before evaluating detailed textual information relating to anyparticular search result.

For instance, the icons 112 a-112 d included in the image region 106 maysuggest to the user that there are multiple search results for a searchquery, or that points of interest that are identified by the searchquery are physically near each other, or are located far apart. Suchsuggestions may mentally register with the user even though the user hasnot yet viewed any detailed textual information about a particularsearch result.

In the first presentation mode, the text region 108 of the search engineresults page 102 a includes one or more of the search results, or textassociated with one or more of the search results. The text region 108may display a portion of search result 114 a, which can include textualcontext information 116, such as a physical address, opening hours, arating, or review information. In FIG. 1, for example, the text region108 displays at least a portion of the search result 114 a, whichincludes textual information relating to a business called “Austin'sPizza Place.” In some implementations, the search result 114 a is ahighest ranked search result.

The text region 108 may be placed beneath the image region 106 on thesearch engine results page 102 a, to allow the user to visually processthe image region 106 first, before visually processing the text region108. Because contextual information relating to the two or more searchresults is included in the image region 106, and because the user mayencounter the image region 106 before the text region 108 whenperforming a top-to-bottom scan of the search engine results page 102 a,the user is able to efficiently glean general information about a set ofsearch results, then specific information about particular searchresults, using a minimum number of eye movements.

Through the arrangement of content regions shown in FIG. 1, the user'sattention may instinctively be drawn downward over the search engineresults page 102 a to the image region 106, during which time the usercan derive insights regarding the set of search results that werereturned in response to a search query. The user's attention may thencontinue to be drawn downward to the text region 108, which shows thetext of a particular search result, during which time contextualinformation that was derived from the image region 106 can besupplemented with additional information that is derived from the textof the particular search result. In doing so, the user can quickly learna significant amount of information about the search results, or about aparticular search result, in a highly intuitive manner. In someimplementations, the text region 108 may be placed above the imageregion 106, placed to the side of the image region 106, or any otherposition with respect to the image region 106.

In some implementations, the search engine results page 102 a includes asponsored content region 120. The sponsored content region 120 caninclude sponsored content, e.g., one or more advertisements, related tothe search query 118. In FIG. 1, for example, the sponsored contentregion 118 includes an advertisement for “Papa's Pizza” including a linkto the website of “Papa's Pizza” and an advertising slogan “Order now tosave!!” In some examples, in addition to the sponsored content region120 including the sponsored content, one or more of the search results114 a-114 d can include sponsored content. Specifically, an icon (e.g.,one of the icons 112 a-112 d) can be associated with a point of interestreferenced by a sponsored search result (e.g., one of the search results114 a-114 d). In some examples, the sponsored search result would bedistinguished (e.g., highlighted) from the remaining search results andthe associated icon would be distinguished (e.g., differing coloring)from the remaining icons.

The sponsored content region 120 may be positioned near the top of thesearch results page 102 a, e.g., above the image region 106, as is shownin FIG. 1. However, in other implementations, the sponsored contentregion 120 can be positioned anywhere on the search results page 102 a.For example, the sponsored content region 120 may be position above orbelow the image region 106 or the text region 108.

In general, when the user is ready to learn more information about aparticular search result, the user can switch from one presentationmode, illustrated by search engine results page 102 a, to anotherpresentation mode, illustrated by search engine results page 102 b. Inthis other presentation mode, the search engine results page is updatedto include an image that provides context to a particular search resultthat is in response to the same search query provided above with respectto the first presentation mode, and additional text that providesfurther context to the particular search result. As the user continuesto scroll to additional search results, the image may be locked to aparticular position on the search engine results page, and may beupdated to provide context to a search result to which the user hasscrolled.

In more detail, the second presentation mode may be triggered when theuser scrolls the search engine results page upward. As shown in FIG. 2,in the second presentation mode, the image region 106 of the searchengine results page 102 b is locked to a fixed position at the top ofthe search engine results page 102 b, and is updated to include one ormore images that provide contextual information relating to fewer thanall of the search results.

In one example, the image region 106 is updated to provide contextualinformation relating to a single search result that is in response tothe same search query that is provided above with respect to the firstpresentation mode. Updating the image region 106 may include adjusting azoom level of a map, such that the map is re-centered around an iconrelating to a particular search result. In some examples, the mapincludes a location of the user in relation to the icon, with the mapre-centered around the icon or the user.

When the image region 106 of the search engine results page 102 bincludes a map 110 b, the map 110 b may include a single icon 112 a thatdenotes a physical location associated with a point of interestreferenced by the search result 114 a. In FIG. 2, in response to thesearch query that includes query terms 118 “pizza Austin, Texas,” theimage region 106 includes the icon 112 a showing the location of abusiness referenced by search result 114 a. Notably, the image region106 does not include icons 112 b-d, which show the location of otherbusiness referenced by the search results.

In some implementations, the image region 106 further includes an image202 overlaid on the map 110 b. The image 202 can include informationrelating to the single search result (e.g., the search result 112 a),such as a picture, a street view image, an advertisement, or a renderingof a web page associated with the search result 114 a. The image 202 canbe positioned anywhere in the image region 106. In some examples, thelocation and/or the size of the image does not conflict with (e.g.,overlay) the icons 112 a-112 d.

The search engine results page 102 also includes the text region 108,which is positioned below the image region 106. Because the user hasscrolled the search engine results page upward, the text region 108includes additional text that provides further context to the searchresult 114 a.

When evaluating information displayed on the search engine results page102 b, the user may visually scan over the image region 106 beforescanning the text region 108. Because the image region 106 is displayedabove the text region 108, the user can begin to process the image 110 binformation included in the image region 106 before processing theadditional text 116 included in the text region 108. Thus, by includingcontextual information relating to the single search result presented inthe image region 106 and positioning the image region 106 above the textregion 108, the user is able to effectively and efficiently process thedata of the search results page 102 b using a minimum number of eyemovements.

In some implementations, the text region 108 includes a partial previewof a search result 114 b below the search result 114 a. The partialpreview of the search result 114 b may alert the user that additionalsearch results are available when the search result page 102 b, eventhough the image region 106 includes contextual information for a singlesearch result. In FIG. 2, the text region 108 includes the search result114 a relating to the business “Austin's Pizza Place” and a partialpreview of the search result 114 b. In some implementations, the searchresult 114 a is the highest ranked search result and the search result114 b is the next-to-highest search result.

The search engine results page can be switched between the first and thesecond presentation modes in response to receiving a user input.Further, the search engine results page can be switched between thefirst and the second presentation modes without receiving an additionalsearch query. Specifically, the user can provide a scrolling gesture tothe search engine results page 102 a, as shown in FIG. 1, such asthrough a proximity-sensitive display of a mobile device. Also, inresponse to receiving the scrolling gesture provided by the user, thesearch engine results page 102 a is scrolled upwards until the imageregion 106 is positioned at the top of the search engine results page102 b, as show in FIG. 2, and further, until the image region 106 islocked to the top of the search engine results page 102 b.

Locking of the image region 106 to the top of the search engine resultspage 102 b includes maintaining the image region 106 at the top of thesearch engine results page 102 b once the image region 106 is positionedat the top of search engine results page 102 b in response to additionaluser input, such as scrolling gestures, provided by the user to thesearch engine results page 102 b. Locking of the image region 106 at thetop of the search engine results page 102 b facilitates maintainingvisual continuity when switching between the first presentation mode andthe second presentation mode of the search engine results page, andfurther maintaining visual continuity of the search engine results pagewhen the second presentation mode displays additional search engineresults.

FIG. 3 shows the search engine results page 102 c, which is displayedwhen the user continues to scroll the search engine results page 102 bupward to view additional text of the search result 114 b. In FIG. 3,the map 110 c shown in the image region 106 has been updated to includethe icon 112 b and the image 202 both relating to the search result 114b. Further, the text region 108 includes textual information 116relating to the search result 114 b. Notably, the map 110 does notinclude icons 112 a and 112 c-d.

The user can input a scrolling gesture to the search engine results page102 b, such as through a proximity-sensitive display of a mobile devicedisplaying the search engine results page 102 b. When the scrollinggesture is received, the text region 108 scrolls from the search result114 a to the search result 114 b while the image region 106 is locked tothe top of the search engine results page 102 b. The image region 106updates the map 110 to show the icon 112 b relating to the search result114 b. In some examples, when the map 100 updates, the map isconcurrently re-centered about the icon 112 b.

In some examples, in response to receiving the scrolling gesture, thesearch result 114 b stops or “snaps” to a boundary of the image region106 between the image region 106 and the text region 108. Snapping ofthe search results 114 to the boundary of the image region 106 preventsthe user from missing a search result when scrolling thru the searchresults 114 a-114 d.

In the example depicted in FIG. 3, in response to the search query thatincludes query terms 118 “pizza Austin, Texas,” the image region 106includes the icon 112 b showing the physical location of a businessrelated to the search query. The text region 108 includes the searchresult 114 b relating to the business “Pizza Palace” and a partialpreview of a search result 112 c.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a system 400 that can executeimplementations of the present disclosure. In general, the system 400includes a mobile device 402 (e.g., a smart phone) with a touchscreendisplay 404, where the touchscreen display 404 can be used as agraphical user interface (GUI) for the mobile device 402. Thetouchscreen display 404 can display the search engine result pages 102a-c. A number of components within the mobile device 402 provide forinteraction with the mobile device 402. For purposes of clarity, FIG. 4shows certain example components of the mobile device 402. The mobiledevice 402 includes an associated user 405.

The mobile device 402 includes a processor 424 and a memory 426 incommunication with the processor 424. The mobile device 402 cancommunicate with a server system 406 through a network 408 using awireless interface 410. The network 408 can be the internet or acellular network. For example, the mobile device 402 can directtelephone calls through a telephone network or through a data networkusing voice over internet protocol (VOIP).

In addition, the mobile device 402 can transmit other forms of data overthe internet, for example, data in the form of Hypertext TransferProtocol (HTTP) requests that are directed at particular web sites. Themobile device 402 may receive responses, for example, in forms that caninclude but are not limited to mark-up code for generating web pages,media files, and electronic messages.

A number of components running on one or more processors included in themobile device 402 enable a user to interact with the touchscreen display404 to provide input and to receive visual output. For example, aninterface manager 412 can manage interaction with the touchscreendisplay 404, and includes a display manager 414 and an input manager416.

The display manager 414 can manage the information displayed to the user405 using the touchscreen display 404. For example, an operating systemrunning on the mobile device 402 can use the display manager 414 toarbitrate access to the touchscreen display 404 for a number ofapplications 418 running on the mobile device 402. For example, themobile device 402 can display a number of applications, each in its ownwindow on the touchscreen display 404, and the display manager 414 cancontrol what portions of each application are shown on the touchscreendisplay 404. In another example, the display manager can control thedisplaying of a virtual artifact.

The input manager 416 can control the handling of data received from theuser 405 using the touchscreen display 404 or other input mechanisms.For example, the input manager 416 can coordinate with the displaymanager 414 to identify where, on the touchscreen display 404, the user405 is entering information so that that the mobile device 402 mayunderstand the context of the input. In addition, the input manager 416may determine which application or applications should be provided withthe input. For example, input to the mobile device 402 using thetouchscreen display 404 can be the user 405 placing their finger on thetouchscreen display while manipulating the mobile device 402. The areaof the mobile device 402 touched by the user's finger can determinewhich of the applications 418 the mobile device 402 launches and runs.

The server system 406 can include a search engine 420 and an index log422. The search engine 420 can be provided as one or more computerprograms and the index log 422 can be provided as one or morecomputer-readable storage media. The search engine 420 receives thesearch query. In response to receiving the search query, the searchengine 420 processes the search query through one or more indices of theindex log 422 to identify one or more search results.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an example process 500 for displaying a searchengine results page in a first presentation mode or a secondpresentation mode and switching the display between the two modes. Theexample process 500 can be executed using one or more computing devices.For example, the mobile device 402 and/or the server system 406employing the system 400 of FIG. 4 can be used to execute the exampleprocess 500.

A search query is received (502) and transmitted (504). For example, thesearch query is input to a search query field by a user. The searchquery field can be displayed on the touchscreen display of the mobiledevice.

The search query may be transmitted to a server system by a mobiledevice employing the network. The search engine processes the searchquery using an index to identify one or more search results. The searchengine obtains the search results, and transmits the search results tothe mobile device, where they are received (506). In someimplementations, the search results include local search results. Forexample, the local search results can pertain to a geographic location(such as a neighborhood or city) in which the user is located. In someimplementations, the search results include universal search resultsincluding, among other things, news, video, images, local, and booksearch results in combination with search results from web pages. Insome implementations, the global search results are independent of thegeographic location of the user.

The search results are displayed in the first presentation mode or thesecond presentation mode (508). For example, the mobile device maydisplay the search results on the search engine results page via thetouchscreen display. In the first presentation mode, the image region ofthe search engine results page includes contextual information relatingto two or more search results that are in response to the search query.In the second presentation mode, the image region of the search engineresults page includes contextual information relating a single searchresult that is in response to the search query. In some implementations,the single search result of the second presentation mode is included inthe two or more search results of the first presentation mode.

User input is received (510). For example, the mobile device 402receives user input via the touchscreen display. The user input caninclude the user providing a swiping gesture across the touchscreendisplay with respect to the search engine results page.

A determination is made whether the user input is related to switchingbetween the first presentation mode and the second presentation mode(512). For example, the mobile device determines whether the user input,such as the swiping gesture, is related to switching between the firstpresentation mode of the search engine results page and the secondpresentation mode of the search engine results page.

If the user input is related to switching between the first presentationmode and the second presentation mode, a switch between the firstpresentation mode and the second presentation mode occurs (514). Forexample, the mobile device determines that the swiping gesture providedby the user via the touchscreen display relates to switching between thefirst presentation mode of the search engine results page and the secondpresentation mode of the search engine results page and, as a result,switches between the first presentation mode and the second presentationmode. In some implementations, the switch between the first presentationmode and the second presentation mode occurs without receiving anadditional search query.

If the user input is not related to switching between the firstpresentation mode and the second presentation mode, a page is displayedbased on other input (516). For example, the mobile device determinesthat the user input provided via the touchscreen display does not relateto switching between the first presentation mode of the search engineresults page and the second presentation mode of the search engineresults page and, as a result, displays a page based on the user input.For example, the user input can relate to selection of hyperlink-enabledtext of the textual information.

Implementations of the present disclosure and all of the functionaloperations provided herein can be realized in digital electroniccircuitry, or in computer software, firmware, or hardware, including thestructures disclosed in this specification and their structuralequivalents, or in combinations of one or more of them. Implementationsof the present disclosure can be realized as one or more computerprogram products, i.e., one or more modules of computer programinstructions encoded on a computer readable medium for execution by, orto control the operation of, data processing apparatus. The computerreadable medium can be a machine-readable storage device, amachine-readable storage substrate, a memory device, a composition ofmatter effecting a machine-readable propagated signal, or a combinationof one or more of them. The term “data processing apparatus” encompassesall apparatus, devices, and machines for processing data, including byway of example a programmable processor, a computer, or multipleprocessors or computers. The apparatus can include, in addition tohardware, code that creates an execution environment for the computerprogram in question, e.g., code that constitutes processor firmware, aprotocol stack, a database management system, an operating system, or acombination of one or more of them.

A computer program (also known as a program, software, softwareapplication, script, or code) can be written in any form of programminglanguage, including compiled or interpreted languages, and it can bedeployed in any form, including as a stand alone program or as a module,component, subroutine, or other unit suitable for use in a computingenvironment. A computer program does not necessarily correspond to afile in a file system. A program can be stored in a portion of a filethat holds other programs or data (e.g., one or more scripts stored in amarkup language document), in a single file dedicated to the program inquestion, or in multiple coordinated files (e.g., files that store oneor more modules, sub programs, or portions of code). A computer programcan be deployed to be executed on one computer or on multiple computersthat are located at one site or distributed across multiple sites andinterconnected by a communication network.

The processes and logic flows described in this present disclosure canbe performed by one or more programmable processors executing one ormore computer programs to perform functions by operating on input dataand generating output. The processes and logic flows can also beperformed by, and apparatus can also be implemented as, special purposelogic circuitry, e.g., an FPGA (field programmable gate array) or anASIC (application specific integrated circuit).

Processors suitable for the execution of a computer program include, byway of example, both general and special purpose microprocessors, andany one or more processors of any kind of digital computer. Generally, aprocessor will receive instructions and data from a read only memory ora random access memory or both. Elements of a computer can include aprocessor for performing instructions and one or more memory devices forstoring instructions and data. Generally, a computer will also include,or be operatively coupled to receive data from or transfer data to, orboth, one or more mass storage devices for storing data, e.g., magnetic,magneto optical disks, or optical disks. However, a computer need nothave such devices. Moreover, a computer can be embedded in anotherdevice, e.g., a mobile telephone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), amobile audio player, a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver, to namejust a few. Computer readable media suitable for storing computerprogram instructions and data include all forms of non-volatile memory,media and memory devices, including by way of example semiconductormemory devices, e.g., EPROM, EEPROM, and flash memory devices; magneticdisks, e.g., internal hard disks or removable disks; magneto opticaldisks; and CD ROM and DVD-ROM disks. The processor and the memory can besupplemented by, or incorporated in, special purpose logic circuitry.

To provide for interaction with a user, implementations of the presentdisclosure can be implemented on a computer having a display device,e.g., a CRT (cathode ray tube) or LCD (liquid crystal display) monitor,for displaying information to the user and a keyboard and a pointingdevice, e.g., a mouse or a trackball, by which the user can provideinput to the computer. Other kinds of devices can be used to provide forinteraction with a user as well; for example, feedback provided to theuser can be any form of sensory feedback, e.g., visual feedback,auditory feedback, or tactile feedback; and input from the user can bereceived in any form, including acoustic, speech, or tactile input.

While this disclosure includes some specifics, these should not beconstrued as limitations on the scope of the disclosure or of what maybe claimed, but rather as descriptions of features of exampleimplementations of the disclosure. Certain features that are describedin this disclosure in the context of separate implementations can alsobe provided in combination in a single implementation. Conversely,various features that are described in the context of a singleimplementation can also be provided in multiple implementationsseparately or in any suitable subcombination. Moreover, althoughfeatures may be described above as acting in certain combinations andeven initially claimed as such, one or more features from a claimedcombination can in some cases be excised from the combination, and theclaimed combination may be directed to a subcombination or variation ofa subcombination.

Similarly, while operations are depicted in the drawings in a particularorder, this should not be understood as requiring that such operationsbe performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, orthat all illustrated operations be performed, to achieve desirableresults. In certain circumstances, multitasking and parallel processingmay be advantageous. Moreover, the separation of various systemcomponents in the implementations described above should not beunderstood as requiring such separation in all implementations, and itshould be understood that the described program components and systemscan generally be integrated together in a single software product orpackaged into multiple software products.

Thus, particular implementations of the present disclosure have beendescribed. Other implementations are within the scope of the followingclaims. For example, the actions recited in the claims can be performedin a different order and still achieve desirable results. A number ofimplementations have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understoodthat various modifications may be made without departing from the spiritand scope of the disclosure. For example, various forms of the flowsshown above may be used, with steps re-ordered, added, or removed.Accordingly, other implementations are within the scope of the followingclaims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A computer-implemented method comprising:providing a search engine results page that includes (i) a text regionthat displays textual information that relates to a first search result,and (ii) an image region that displays a map that includes one or moreicons, the one or more icons including an icon that specifies a locationon the map that is associated with the first search result; and inresponse to receiving data indicating a user input that causes scrollingof the search engine results page, (i) modifying the text region todisplay textual information that relates to a second search result thatwas not presented before scrolling, (ii) modifying the text region toremove the textual information that relates to the first search result,(iii) modifying the image region to display a map that includes an iconthat specifies a location on the map that is associated with the secondsearch result, (iv) modifying the image region to remove the icon thatspecifies the location associated with the first search result, (v)moving the image region containing the map to a particular screenposition, and (vi) scrolling the text region while maintaining the imageregion at the particular screen position.
 2. The method of claim 1,wherein the map that includes an icon that specifies a location on themap that is associated with the second search result is the same as themap that includes an icon that specifies a location on the map that isassociated with a search result.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein themap that includes an icon that specifies a location on the map that isassociated with the second search result is different than the map thatincludes an icon that specifies a location on the map that is associatedwith a search result.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein providing thesearch engine results page comprises providing a search engine resultspage having an image region that includes, in addition to the map andthe icon that specifies the location on the map that is associated withthe first search result, an image that is associated with the firstsearch result.
 5. The method of claim 4, comprising: in response toreceiving the data indicating user input, modifying the image that isassociated with the first search result and that is co-located in theimage region to display a different image that is associated with thesecond search result.
 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising,receiving, at a mobile device, a resource for a search engine resultspage that includes multiple search results, wherein providing the searchengine results page comprises displaying the search engine results pageat the mobile device.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein providing thesearch engine results page comprises providing a search engine resultspage that includes (i) a text region that displays a first set of searchresults, and (ii) an image region that displays a map that includes anicon for each search result in the first set of search results, eachicon specifying a location on the map that is associated with thecorresponding search result; and wherein modifying the text regioncomprises modifying the text region to display a second set of searchresults, the second set of search results including a different numberof search results than the first set of search results; and whereinmodifying the image region comprises modifying the image region todisplay a map that includes an icon for each search result in the secondset of search results, the map having a different number of icons thanwere displayed prior to receiving the data indicating the user input. 8.The method of claim 1, wherein providing the search engine results pagecomprises providing a search engine results page that includes multipleicons on the map, each of the multiple icons specifying a locationassociated with a different search result, wherein the multiple iconsinclude at least one icon specifying a location associated with a searchresult that is not presented in a currently displayed view of the searchengine results page.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein providing thesearch engine results page comprises providing a search engine resultspage that includes multiple icons in the map, each of the multiple iconsspecifying a location associated with a different search result; andwherein modifying the image region to remove at least one of the one ormore icons comprises, in response to receiving data indicating a userinput, removing each of the multiple icons except one of the multipleicons that specifies a location associated with a highest-ranking searchresult displayed after scrolling of the search engine results page. 10.The method of claim 1, wherein providing the search engine results pagecomprises providing a first view of the search engine results page inwhich (i) the text region displays textual information that relates to afirst subset of search results, and (ii) only one search result has acorresponding icon displayed on the map in the image region; and furthercomprising, after modifying the text region and the image region inresponse to receiving the data indicating the user input that causesscrolling of the search engine results page, providing a second view ofthe search engine results in which (i) the text region displays textualinformation that relates to a second subset of search results that isdifferent from the first subset of search results, and (ii) only onesearch result has a corresponding icon displayed on the map in the imageregion and the icon corresponds to a different search result than theicon displayed in the first view of the search engine results page. 11.The method of claim 10, wherein the icon displayed in the first view ofthe search engine results page specifies a location associated with ahighest-ranking search result from the first subset of search results,and wherein the icon displayed in the second view of the search engineresults page specifies a location associated with a highest-rankingsearch result from the second subset of search results.
 12. The methodof claim 10, wherein the first subset of search results and the secondsubset of search results share at least one search result.
 13. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising, in response to receiving the datathat causes scrolling of the search engine results page, scrolling thetext region and not scrolling the image region.
 14. A system comprising:one or more computers and one or more storage devices storinginstructions that are operable, when executed by the one or morecomputers, to cause the one or more computers to perform operationscomprising: providing a search engine results page that includes (i) atext region that displays textual information that relates to a firstsearch result, and (ii) an image region that displays a map thatincludes one or more icons, the one or more icons including an icon thatspecifies a location on the map that is associated with the first searchresult; and in response to receiving data indicating a user input thatcauses scrolling of the search engine results page, (i) modifying thetext region to display textual information that relates to a secondsearch result that was not presented before scrolling, (ii) modifyingthe text region to remove the textual information that relates to thefirst search result, (iii) modifying the image region to display a mapthat includes an icon that specifies a location on the map that isassociated with the second search result, (iv) modifying the imageregion to remove the icon that specifies the location associated withthe first search result, (v) moving the image region containing the mapto a particular screen position, and (vi) scrolling the text regionwhile maintaining the image region at the particular screen position.15. A non-transitory computer-readable storage device storing softwarecomprising instructions executable by one or more computers which, uponsuch execution, cause the one or more computers to perform operationscomprising: providing a search engine results page that includes (i) atext region that displays textual information that relates to a firstsearch result, and (ii) an image region that displays a map thatincludes one or more icons, the one or more icons including an icon thatspecifies a location on the map that is associated with the first searchresult; and in response to receiving data indicating a user input thatcauses scrolling of the search engine results page, (i) modifying thetext region to display textual information that relates to a secondsearch result that was not presented before scrolling, (ii) modifyingthe text region to remove the textual information that relates to thefirst search result, (iii) modifying the image region to display a mapthat includes an icon that specifies a location on the map that isassociated with the second search result, and (iv) modifying the imageregion to remove the icon that specifies the location associated withthe first search result, (v) moving the image region containing the mapto a particular screen position, and (vi) scrolling the text regionwhile maintaining the image region at the particular screen position.16. A computer-implemented method comprising: providing a search engineresults page that includes (i) a text region that displays textualinformation that relates to a first search result, and (ii) an imageregion that displays a map that includes multiple icons, each of themultiple icons specifying a location associated with a different searchresult; and in response to receiving data indicating a user input thatcauses scrolling of the search engine results page, (i) modifying thetext region to display textual information that relates to a secondsearch result that was not presented before scrolling, (ii) modifyingthe text region to remove the textual information that relates to thefirst search result, (iii) modifying the image region to remove each ofthe multiple icons except one of the multiple icons that specifies alocation associated with a highest-ranking search result displayed afterscrolling of the search engine results page, and (iv) modifying theimage region to remove the icon that specifies the location associatedwith the first search result.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein theimage region is disposed at a top of the search engine results pagebefore scrolling in response to the user input and after scrolling inresponse to the user input.
 18. A system comprising: one or morecomputers and one or more storage devices storing instructions that areoperable, when executed by the one or more computers, to cause the oneor more computers to perform operations comprising: providing a searchengine results page that includes (i) a text region that displaystextual information that relates to a first search result, and (ii) animage region that displays a map that includes multiple icons, each ofthe multiple icons specifying a location associated with a differentsearch result; and in response to receiving data indicating a user inputthat causes scrolling of the search engine results page, (i) modifyingthe text region to display textual information that relates to a secondsearch result that was not presented before scrolling, (ii) modifyingthe text region to remove the textual information that relates to thefirst search result, (iii) modifying the image region to remove each ofthe multiple icons except one of the multiple icons that specifies alocation associated with a highest-ranking search result displayed afterscrolling of the search engine results page, and (iv) modifying theimage region to remove the icon that specifies the location associatedwith the first search result.
 19. The system of claim 18, wherein theimage region is disposed at a top of the search engine results pagebefore scrolling in response to the user input and after scrolling inresponse to the user input.
 20. A computer-readable storage devicestoring software comprising instructions executable by one or morecomputers which, upon such execution, cause the one or more computers toperform operations comprising: providing a search engine results pagethat includes (i) a text region that displays textual information thatrelates to a first search result, and (ii) an image region that displaysa map that includes multiple icons, each of the multiple iconsspecifying a location associated with a different search result; and inresponse to receiving data indicating a user input that causes scrollingof the search engine results page, (i) modifying the text region todisplay textual information that relates to a second search result thatwas not presented before scrolling, (ii) modifying the text region toremove the textual information that relates to the first search result,(iii) modifying the image region to remove each of the multiple iconsexcept one of the multiple icons that specifies a location associatedwith a highest-ranking search result displayed after scrolling of thesearch engine results page, and (iv) modifying the image region toremove the icon that specifies the location associated with the firstsearch result.
 21. The device of claim 20, wherein the image region isdisposed at a top of the search engine results page before scrolling inresponse to the user input and after scrolling in response to the userinput.